Synchronizing clutch



Nav. 28', 1.944. Q D. PETERSQN E1- AL 2,363,746

` smcmwmzma amen Filed Aug. 7, -1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M ma (.7. D.' PETERSON ET AL Nov. 28, 1944.

SYNCHROHIZIHG CLUTCH' File Aug. '1, 194s 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVHVTORS, v @HJM Patented Nev. 2s,

UNITED `sTAT Ir=1s`v 4Pur-ENT, oFF-ICE smcnnmcw'rcn les, om

` Application August 1, 1943,' serai No. rev-,u1

This invention relates to synchronizing f clutches, and has for its obiecta new arrange-v ment of the synchronizing ring and the blocking teeth thereon relatively tothe coacting teeth of l Y ial shifting `of the. clutch .membersto complete.

the shifting in, lafter the sh'iitable clutch member and the synchronizing ring have rst shifted .as a unit to eiIect synchronization, preliminary 'to completing the shifting in.

'Itiurther has for'its object a'compact synchronizing clutch inl which the friction elements arey of relatively great load capacity for a given diameter. f j

" The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations'and constructions here-A inafter set forthand claimed.,

In describing this invention,A reference ishad to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters designate corresponding parts inA all the views.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a transmission mechanism embodyingthis synchronizing clutch.y

Figure 2 urel. Y

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views on line 3-4, Figure l, showing the position of the b1ock ins teth before and after synchronization is efecte E 'llgure 5 is a sectional view on line 5 4, Fig- This synchronizing lclutch comprises driving and driven members, one ofwhich issuitable axially, a synchronizing ring, coacting blocking teeth on the synchronizing'ring and the clutch member with which it rotates and also yielding means between the synchronizing ring andthe .clutch member with which it rotates. I n thev illustrated embodiment of our inventiomtheshiftable member rotates with the driven element orstructure oi the transmission to which `thesimchronizing clutch is applied. Y

I and 2 designate, respectively, drive and driven structures, shafts or elements. the drive shaft being here yshown as a hollow shaft -arranged is a sectional viewon line 2-2, Fig-v a drive shaft, but in so' far as this inventionfor synchronizing clutch isv concerned,- the shaft 3 is of'noconseqence.- The driven shaf't 2 has a head' v4 on which-the shiftable member of. the 5 clutch slides. f I designates one oi'l the clutch members, in

this embodiment of the invention, the driving clutch member, -this being rotatable withthe shaft I and having a hub 5 lprovided with pe.` ripheral clutch teeth I` and lwith a friction ring l spaced from and overhanging the hub 6 forming an annular recess aroundthe hub- 6, the ring 8 being formed with'an internal conical friction surface 9.v In the illustrated-embodiment .of the l5 invention, the hub 9A is the outer race of an overrunning clutch, the inner race or cam III of which is keyed or-'spline'd to the shaft`- I.

purpose of the. overrunr'iing clutch, in the pres-- `ent' exemplication, is to permit the hub 6 to V-overr\m. iinecessary, when theA shaft 2 is being driven by the shaft 3 in a higher gear ratio. I3

' designates the shiitable member of the clutch,

.15 embodiment of the' invention, this being a clutchv collar slidablysplined on` the head 4 and rotatable' therewith, the head 4 being 'of substantially the same' diameterasvthe hub 6.- This clutcjh 1 member I3 yhas an extension I 4 which encircles :m the hub 9 -within the annular friction ring 8 'I'he ends I5 vof the internal splines of the clutch 'collar I3 constitute clutch teeth 'for coacting with the clutch teeth 1. s f I I6 designates a Asynchronizing ring for coact- :t' ing with .the friction face 9 ofthe ring 8, this' extending into the'frictionrring and held assembled therewith in any suitable manner, as by a retaining ring I1r and a' lock ring I8. The synchronizing ring -I6 is mountedony th'efex- 40.tension I4 o f the shiftable collar I3 to rotate therewith and to -have'fa limited rockingA movementrelatively thereto, the ring -IBbeing formed .with internal blocking'te'eth I9 andthe extension I4 with external teeth or projections 20 locatedin the spaces between the teeth I9 vand of less width than the same, andalso with teeth or `projections 2|"alined in an axial direction with the teeth 2I| but -tting the' spaces between the teeth I9 with a sliding llt and-being normally,

located outoi said spaces, as seen -in ,Figurel 3.

When the speeds aredifi'erent, the parts occupy jections 2I will be obstructed by the corners of concentric with a shaft 3, the shaft 3 being also` 55 the teeth I9. As the speeds synchronize, the

II are the l rollers between the inner-and outer races. The.

.which-is also the driven member 1n the iuustrad teeth 2| are brought almost into exact alinement with the spaces between the teeth Il and shifting in can be completed. as illustrated in Figure 4. During this movement, the clutch teeth II interlock with the clutch teeth 1 without clashing. The corners of-the projections Il and 2| are beveled, as at 22, at cam angles to.

facilitate the alining of the projections or teeth 2|, and the spacesbetween the teeth Il, all as will be understood by those familiar with the operation of synchronizing clutches.

The yielding means between the clutch collar I3 and the synchronizing ring Il is here shown as spring-pressed thimbles or poppets 23 carried by the clutch member or collar I3 and-located in the teeth or projections 2| and projecting above the ends of the same, these thimbles or 'poppets 23 having cam-shaped ends which coact with an annular cam-shaped surface 24 on the rear edge of the synchronizing ring I6. Upon the beginning of the shifting in of the clutch collar I3, the shifting in force is .transmitted to the synchronizing ring I8 through the spring-pressed poppets 23 and cam face 2l, thus engaging the'friction surface of the synchronizing ring I Ii with the complemental friction surface 9 of the friction ring 8. These f riction surfaces are of sumcient area and location to transmit torque, and hence synchronize the speeds of shafts I, 2. After the speeds synchronize, the teeth |-9 and 2| approach a relative position analogous to thatV shown in Figure 4, but with the shoulders or teeth 2| out of the spaces between the teeth 19 but nearlyralined therewith. Upon continued application of the shifting in force, the cam surfaces,22 will cause :,seano the projections 2| and the spaces between the teeth I9 to aline and complete shifting'in ef- Y fected. The clutch collar I3 also operates another clutch member through a fork or spider 26, which has an arm 21 extending through lengthwise slots 28 in the head .4, and which are suitably joined at 29 to theclutch collar to shift axially therewith.y This feature forms no part Aof the invention. The clutch member 2l is part of a balking ring clutch through which the power is transmitted from the shaft 3 directly 4to the shaft 2. The shafts I,- 3 are usually driven by the same engine, but the shaft I through a torque converter having a slipping action andthe shaft 3 directly'from the crank shaft of the engine. clutch of this application is engaged, the drive is through the torque converter and the shaft l, and when the balking ring is engaged, the drive is'directly from the shaft 3. However, this invention is directed to the synchronizing clutch capable of transmitting high torque. The

clutch collar I3 is shifted by suitable shifting mechanism, as a fork 30 `in a rock shaft 3|, which may be operated in any suitable manner.

One embodiment of a complete transmissionl mechanism in which this synchronizing clutch may be used is shown in our pending application, Serial No. 497,839 filed August 7, 1943.

What we claim is: 1. A synchronizing clutch including Vdrive and driven members, one of said members having a hub and a friction ring spaced outwardly radially from the hub, a synchronizing ring ro-v tatable with the other of the said members and having a limited rocking circumferential movement relatively thereto.' the hub being formed with clutch teeth, and the other of said1members being a collar having internal clutch teeth for coacting with the Iformer clutch teeth and also having an annular portion enclosing the hub and extending into the synchronizing ring, the synchronizing ring having internal blocking teeth, and the collar having external projections extending between said blocking teeth and being of less width than the spaces between the blocking teeth, for permitting limited rocking movement of the synchronizing ring, the collar also having a second set of projections alined, in an axial direction with the former projections for coacting with the blocking teeth and being of substantially the same width as the'spaces between the blocking teeth' and normally. out of said spaces.

2. A synchronizing clutch including drive and driven members, one ot said members having a hub and a friction ring spaced outwardly radially from the hub. a synchronizing ring rotatable with the other of the said members and having a limited rocking circumferential movement relatively thereto, the hub being formed with clutch teeth, and the other of said members being a collar having internal clutch teeth for coacting with the former clutch teeth and also having an annular portion enclosing the hub and extending into the synchronizing ring, the synchronizing ring having internal blocking teeth, and the co1- lar having external projections extending between said blocking teeth and being of less width than the spaces between the blocking teeth, for permitting limited rocking movement of the synchronizing ring, the collar also having a second set of projections alined, in an axial direction with the former projections for coacting with the blocking teeth and being of substantially the -same width as the spaces between the blocking teeth and normally out of said spaces, and yielding spring means interposed between the clutch collar and the synchronizing ring, the yielding means and the synchronizing ringhaving coacting-cam surfaces.

When the synchronizing 3. A synchronizing clutch including drive and driven members, one of said'members having a hub and a friction ring spaced outwardly radial- 1y from the hub, a synchronizing ring rotatable with the other of the said members and having a limited rocking circumferential movement re1- atively thereto, the hub being formed with clutch teeth, and the other of said members being a collar having internal clutch teeth for coacting with the former clutch teeth and also having an annular portion enclosing the hub and extending into the synchronizing ring, the synchroniz-A ing ring having internal blocking teeth, and the collar having external projections extending between asaid blocking teeth and being of less width than the spaces between the blocking teeth, for permitting limited rocking movement of the synchronizing ring. the collar also having a second 4set of projections allned.. in an axial direction with the former projections for coacting with the blocking teeth and being of substantially the 1 same width as the spaces between the blocking teeth and normally out of said spaces, and yield ing spring-pressed poppets carried by the collar and extending radially relative to the axis thereof, the pOppetB coacting with the'synchronizing ring and said coacting/,parts having coacting inclined cam faces.

'4. The combination of drivingl and driven structures. a synchronizing clutch including driving and driven membu-s havingv relative axial shifting movement, one of said membersbeing drlvingly connected to one of said structures and v friction ring spaced outwardly radially from the hub, the other ofisaid structures having a clutch head of substantially the'same diameter as the" hub, the other of said clutch-n embers being a collar splined on the clutch head and having an clutch teeth for coacting with the clutch teeth of the. hub upon relative axial shifting of one member towardfthe other, a synchronizing ring rotatable with said other of the clutch members and having a. limited rocking circumferential movement relatively thereto and also having a friction face for coacting with the friction ring.

shifting-in of the clutch to engage the clutch teeth while the speeds of the driving and driven extension enclosing said hub, `and also having the extension of said collar Athe synchronizing ring having teeth coacting to" block complete structures are diiferent and to permit said shiftfing when-the speeds synchronize, and a. yielding connection between the'extension' and the syn.

chronizing ring, normally preventing relative ax- Aiai movement of the same Vwhenthe speedsV are dierent and to permitsuch relative axial shift- Ying when the speeds synchronize.' Y

CARL D. -PE'rERsoNQ Ammer n. umn 

